Our Story
APRIL 2015
It was on the roof deck of our former office, where we were both taking a break from attending the same training that day. We were introduced by a co-worker. That was the first time we met.
September 29, 2016
It took me several attempts to ask Frances out before she finally agreed to dinner. Frances wasn’t sure if I was just being friendly, and actually half-expected my brother, David, her teammate, to join us.
At the end of the day, we both felt that it was our first date.
NOVEMBER 29, 2016
Frances and I went out for an impromptu dinner at Blake’s after work. We both enjoyed the food and the stories we shared. After bringing Frances home and sharing more meaningful conversations, she finally agreed to becoming my girlfriend. Who knew this day will mark the start of our love story?
FEBRUARY 14, 2017
Dan was extremely excited about our first Valentine’s date. He made reservations for a three-course dinner at a restaurant near our office. Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan - our meals took FOREVER to arrive. But being FranDan, we still had a great time laughing, pretending to be prim and proper (we were the only makulit table in the restaurant!) and just being ourselves, really.
Dan gave me a rose (on top of the Toblerone rose he gave me).
We ended the night talking over cocktails at another restaurant.
SEPTEMBER 2017
I introduced Frances to my friends after a few weeks we became a couple. It had also been years since I last saw my college friends that’s why we all planned an out-of-town trip with our significant others. Fortunately, we all agreed on going to the beach. I’m pretty sure that Frances was much more excited than I am since she loves the beach more than I do.
Nevermind the givens; the time we swam in the ocean, in a cave, or resting in our airbnb.
The most memorable for me were the wacky photos we took and I just can’t believe that we were both so game for those!
FEBRUARY 14, 2017
Our first year filled with food adventures was capped off by a special dinner at Galileo Enoteca Deli, where we feasted on yummy Italian food after work. It was a really unforgettable evening. We went home happy and full!
Dan planned this one, and we decided we would take turns planning each anniversary date.
JANUARY 2018
We put up a tiny dimsum business together in 2018. Awesome Dimsum allowed us to discover so much about each other, improve our teamwork and communication, and overall just enjoy each other’s company while trying to achieve something together.
Awesome Dimsum is currently on hiatus, but we look forward to putting up another business in the future!
NOVEMBER 29, 2020
It took me months of preparation to ask her the single question that would forever change our lives. I’ve always been waiting for the “perfect timing” for it, as it was already in my mind, even before the end of 2019. Someone once told me that you should have several fallbacks when coming up with something big, and try planning from A to Z. For me, this was already plan P, or plan “perfect”. There were a few things I had to compromise on along the way but in the end, I was able to ask her in a place where it feels like home, during our anniversary.
“Will you marry me?”, I asked. I was restless—I didn’t exactly know what to do, but in the back of my mind, I already knew the answer.
“Yes”, she said.
September 29, 2021